If you love Christmas, Disney World in December is an absolute delight. There are daily holiday events and activities happening at each of the major theme parks, and the resorts at both Disney World and Universal Orlando are decked out in their best holiday finery. Mommy Frog loves the word finery, especially when it's on display in all of its Victorian splendor during Christmas at Disney's Grand Floridian. Mommy Frog loves to visit this time of year particularly because of the spectacular decorations on display at the Disney World resorts. Among the most delectable are Disney's Grand Floridian, which features a life-size Victorian gingerbread house and the gigantic gingerbread tree at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Disney's Wilderness Lodge has nothing edible on display, but it is a sight to behold. Its exposed timber and pitched roof is the perfect place for the massive Christmas tree outfitted in pine cones, drums and teepees.
Yes, the theme parks are all decked out for the holidays, and there are tons of holiday events and happenings, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Epcot's Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios, SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration and the Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal. Even better, most of them are included with regular admission into the theme parks. That makes it an extra special bargain in my book, and, yes, a great time to visit.
Crowds at Disney World in December
As far as crowd levels go, Disney World in December is divided. The first half of the month sees low to neutral crowd levels, but beware, the second half of the month sees the highest crowds of the entire year! If you're considering taking the kids out of school for vacation, the first half of the month is the best ti We know this is a personal decision, and we won’t judge you either way (here are a few questions to ask yourself before you do). The beauty of visiting in early December is that you can take in all of the spectacular holiday displays and events, and even let the kids visit Santa without having to worry about humongous lines.
To make your planning easier, our Crowd Calendar is available a full year out! We recommend you check the Crowd Calendar when you begin planning your trip to find the best travel dates and then revisiting it again as you get closer to your actual trip to pick the recommended park by day.
Weather at Disney World in December
Rainfall chances this month are low, and the average high is 73 with an average low of 52. Disney's Blizzard Beach and LEGOLAND’s Water Park are closed for the season (Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, SeaWorld by Aquatica and Wet 'n' Wild are open and heated). The Disney resort pools and most Orlando hotel pools are heated! Here is the packing list for this time of year.
Events at Disney World in December
Here’s the rundown of the events that usually take place in December. Be sure to check out special events pages for Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando for full details.
- Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney
- SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration
- Holidays Around the World - Candlelight Processional
- Busch Garden's Christmas Town
- Macy's Holiday Parade and Mannheim Steamroller Holiday Concert at Universal Studios
- Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure
- LEGOLAND's Christmas Bricktacular
No matter when you decide to visit Disney World, be sure to check out the blog for the latest Disney World news, tips and information. You'll find a ton more resources inside our Orlando Planning Guide.
Happy planning!